This is a nice couple from Scotland we ate with each night. Though he rented the tux top, below was his kilt. We would raise hell at every dinner, being the last to leave the dining room each night, carrying whatever was left in our bottles of wine out with us.
The waterfront is in a crescent shape with a seawall that protects the harbor. The morning was too cool to have people out on the beach, but by afternoon, it was packed with both tourists and locals.
Wenonah posing on the fish cleaning dock.
All streets were only about 2 meters wide through the vast majority of the town. All buiildings were painted blue and white and there were many flowering trees and flowers lining the narrow streets.
We wandered these unlabeled streets for nearly an hour trying to find the naval architecture museum. We finally gave up and were meandering up a street window shopping and happened across the museum. The museum was very interesting as it described how some of these different style ships were made. Unfortunately no pictures in the museum.
A better example of the streets of Mykonos, the white paint was blinding after entering a dark shop.
We had learned that the tourist restaurants along the waterfront were way to overpriced, on the order of $20 for a sandwich, $10 for a beer. We wandered the side streets, navigating by smell and decreasing amounts of tourist shops. We stuck our head into this place and were satisfied that we heard no English. There were four crusty sea captains in the corner table mumbling to one another and cook was a young Greek man whose mother would come from in back and yell at him every few minutes. We ordered a pork sluvaki platter, a greek salad, and 2 beers, came out to about 7 euro (~$11). The platter could have fed three people and the salad had a block of feta that would have been used on at least 4 salads in the states. This was our best meal of the trip.
The wealthier homes had a small garden in their front yard, which added some beautiful color to the already bright streets.
Another narrow street, I think we got lost again about this time. The best way to get out, follow the slope downhill back to the harbor.
Our cruise ship pulling away, the water was so clear.
As we were leaving the town two other cruise ships pulled up and anchored, using launches to ferry people ashore. We were happy we were getting out of there.
Our cruise ship and one of those ultra expensive sailing cruise ships at anchor.
About 2/3 up our climb, we started questioning why we didn’t just pay to get up the hill.
One option was the gondola, which was uber expensive, and about 95% of the people took this means of transport.
The other option was a donkey ride, and I should have listened to my wife and just paid to do this for the experience, but I was too much of a cheapskate.
This is the Cliffside village/town of Fira, which is the largest town on the island. Where the gondola and path reach the top are many tourist shops, so we made our way through them and finally found what to do.
Another view of the cruise ship in the harbor.
A Greek Orthodox church right on the edge of the cliff.
We rented an ATV in Fira and set out, soon ending up in the winery part of the island. The volcanic soil makes it difficult to grow the grapes, but also gives them a peculiar taste. We stopped at this winery and did a quick tasting before heading further into the island.
Wen and I got some shots of us from atop this winery.
The black sand beach on the back side of the mountain. The sand was blistering hot, and the water was icy cold, so it was fun to lay on a towel, then run into the water to start shivering. The other cool part of this beach, it was a topless beach; you have got to love Greece.
This was as far as we could take the ATV, from here we hiked to the red beach.
The red beach, named for the volcanic rock beach behind it.
One of the many tourist sail boats that motored past, touring the island for all the cruise goers.
You can see the path down the hillside to get to the beach, which was nothing but ball bearing sized scree.
Wen on the hike back out to the ATV.
A workboat in the harbor with a small church in the background. I swear that the churches almost outnumbered homes on this island.
After enjoying some treats and beers at a couple of small restaraunts on the way back, we hiked down the path in the blazing afternoon sun, making us very happy the hike up had been in the shade of the cliffs.
The donkeys we should have rode up the mountain.
A shot of the cliffs as we motored back out to the cruise ship. We found out one of the ferry boats had caught fire earlier, but the other boats came to assist in removing all passengers and sending fire extinguishers over to put it out.
A look back at the gondola, which we know didn’t have anyone from our cruise ship on it since we were on the last boat again.
We stopped at one of the cafés and had Turkish coffee and tea.
The entrance to the museum had a beautiful garden where I grabbed these pictures of the flowers.
Wen sitting on the wall of the castle, a very strategic location for a harbor fortress.
The central courtyard also had nice flowers.
The Islamic tower within the castle’s walls.
Amphorae in a diorama of a Mediterranean ship.
More amphorae in the courtyard.
My wife hiding in the bushes.
An exhibit of scuba diving on ancient wrecks.
A display showing the construction of the ships in the Mediterranean, catching the eye of a Naval Architect.
A view from the highest point tourists were allowed to go.
Another ancient amphitheater built into the hillside.
The cruise ship at the terminal.
Wen sitting on a rampart overlooking the amazingly clear water.
A blow boat in the harbor, the clear water and the rock structure underwater just begging to be dove.
Another amphora exhibit.
